LaFollette competed in a poster session with students from across the U.S. His presentation on Crohn’s disease, Making Crohn’s Visible: From Struggles to Strides with an Internal Disorder, won in the art and performance category. As a prize, he received $200 from the Ethel Louise Armstrong Foundation.

“My main goal was just to simply bring awareness to the disability and also help others feel more comfortable about their own personal disabilities,” LaFollette said.

Through his 20-page book, LaFollette, who has Crohn’s, explains what it is, how it affects the body, and possible side effects from taking medication.

“The main reason I wanted to even talk about Crohn’s was because most people have never heard of it, and since it’s an internal disorder, people can never tell when you’re in pain or struggling that day,” LaFollette said.

LaFollette is from Westerville, OH, and attended Northside Christian School.